Cell Theory Timeline

  • First compound microscope

    First compound microscope
    Hans and Zacharias Janssen invent the first compound microscope by placing two lenses in a tube
  • Robert Hooke's Microscope

    Robert Hooke's Microscope
    Robert Hooke made a simple microscope and observed a piece of cork
  • Anton van Leeuwenhoek's discoveries

    Anton van Leeuwenhoek's discoveries
    Anton van Leeuwenhoek designed his own microscope and found living organisms in pond water, milk, and various other substances; discovered what are now called protozoans
  • Cell Nucleus Discovered

    Cell Nucleus Discovered
    Scientists discover the cell nucleus
  • Plant Cells Discovered

    Plant Cells Discovered
    Mathias Schleiden studied plant tissues and concluded that plants are made of cells.
  • Plant and Animal Cells

    Plant and Animal Cells
    Scientists propose that both plants and animals are made of cells
  • Rudolph Virchow Proposed Cell Division

    Rudolph Virchow Proposed Cell Division
    Rudolph Virchow proposed cells are made from the division of existing cells.
  • Electron Microscope

    Electron Microscope
    Ernst Ruska developed the electron microscope
  • "Biology of the Cell Surface" Is Written

    "Biology of the Cell Surface" Is Written
    Ernst Everett Just writes the textbook Biology of the Cell Surface
  • Scanning Tunneling Microscope

    Scanning Tunneling Microscope
    The scanning tunneling microscope allows scientists to see individual atoms